BCG-induced trained immunity in macrophage: reprograming of glucose metabolism

Abstract

Memory is no longer a privilege of adaptive immunity. Innate immune cells can exhibit a long-term immune activation after infection or vaccination, which is called “trained immunity.” In addition to defense against mycobacterial infection, BCG-induced trained immunity can also exert nonspecific protection, which is regulated by metabolic rewiring and epigenetic reprograming. Enhanced glycolysis and glutamine-driven tricarboxylic acid cycle have been proven to be important metabolic pathways for trained immunity induced by BCG, which is dependent on Akt/mTOR pathway.

Keywords:

• BCG
• macrophage
• trained immunity
• metabolism
• glucose

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 81871245) and Department of Education of Jilin Province（JJKH20190095KJ）and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China.